Xuanqing Guard

"Hey! You finally showed up again!"

The voice rang out loud and clear, coming in from outside the shop. Shen Hao looked up at the sound and saw a man with ordinary features but fair skin walking in with a cheerful smile.

Shen Hao recognized this man. His name was... seemed to be "Yang Qi"? Yes, that’s it—Yang Qi. A name that was obviously made up and perfunctory.

Would regular people introduce themselves with a fake name? Not likely. That’s why Shen Hao felt this "Yang Qi" was suspicious from the start.

"Why haven’t you come for chicken in so long? What have you been busy with?"

Yang Qi walked straight over and sat at the same table as Shen Hao, waved at the attendant, and the attendant responded with an "I got it" look before arranging their food. Clearly, Yang Qi was a regular here; he didn’t even need to order, the attendant knew just what he wanted.

"Actually, if you want something to go with your drink, you should try their cold platter."

Shen Hao stopped the guards who were about to come over and kick the man out, but he didn’t engage Yang Qi in conversation.

"What’s wrong? Not gonna talk to me? That won’t do. I finally managed to catch you—if you don’t speak, my wait would be for nothing. Look—what’s this?"

Shen Hao was eating a chicken wing, glanced at the opposite seat, and saw Yang Qi pull out a small flask from his storage bag—same magical artifact flask as last time—and, without waiting, poured Shen Hao a cup.

"Have a taste!"

Using a magical artifact as a wine container—Yang Qi was only the second person Shen Hao had seen do that. First was Nie Yun, that bastard. Couldn’t help but be speechless at the extravagance. At least Nie Yun was the up-and-coming star in the Cultivation Realm of Jingxi Territory, a true standout—so what’s this Yang Qi’s identity?

"Hm? Wuliangye? One-year aged?" Shen Hao didn’t even need to drink, just a sniff told him what Yang Qi had poured.

"Oho! You can tell from so far away? That’s impressive! Not even a taste?"

Shen Hao curled his lips, then pulled out a flask of his own—also a one-year aged Wuliangye—tilted his head back, and gulped a mouthful down. Wuliangye was a share of his business; how could he not have tasted it? Would be a joke otherwise.

"I forgot you’re from Fengri City. You must’ve had this kind of wine before. Fine, if you won’t drink, I’ll have it myself." Yang Qi said as he picked up his bowl and sipped the wine slowly. Only after the attendant brought the appetizers did he finish the bowl, then switched to his own wine glass and kept drinking, putting the bowl aside.

"Wuliangye’s hard to get, you got any spare this time? I’ll buy ten times the price. Whatever you have, I’ll take all of it."

"None."

"You definitely have some. You’re Xuanqing Guard—last time I already guessed you came from Fengri City. This kind of one-year aged Wuliangye, you just pull it out whenever you want; even the Chief Officers of Xuanqing Guard in Fengri City don’t have your sort of status. Heh, I heard this Wuliangye’s made by Zhang Family’s Wine Shop, but the real owner is a Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard called Shen Hao—not easy to mess with.

I’m talking about you, right?"

Shen Hao’s expression didn’t change, he kept eating. He had figured it out: this Yang Qi must have come specifically for him.

Who is this guy? Why’s he looking for him?

Curious? Sure. But Shen Hao didn’t need to know right away, he wasn’t a kid.

Seeing Shen Hao remain silent and ignore him, Yang Qi’s brows furrowed a little, mouth turned down, and voice dropped: "Not even giving me face, huh? Hundred Households Shen?"

Shen Hao smacked his lips a few times but still ignored the guy. He’d already made up his mind; didn’t matter who this person was, if he didn’t declare himself, what difference did his grand background make? Shen Hao would finish his food and leave—only an idiot would stick around and waste time.

"Lord Shen, actually, there’s a bit of connection between us. You remember Song Zhizhou, right?"

Song Zhizhou?

The moment the name came up, Shen Hao couldn’t help but look at this guy once more. Thought to himself: So he’s really got some backing.

Song Zhizhou, third master of the Song Family in the Imperial City, handled their external business, was the face of the Song Family to outsiders, heavily valued by the clan. Last time, he tried to get Shen Hao’s "Wuliangye" in Fengri City, only for Shen Hao to use his Xuanqing Guard status to beat him down harshly, after which he was recalled by his family.

Now with Yang Qi suddenly mentioning Song Zhizhou, looks like he’s here with unfriendly intent?

Shen Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, expressionless, set his chopsticks down, gripped the Yanji Saber’s hilt on the table, and calmly asked, "Who are you?"

"Oh? What’s this, Lord Shen—is that an invitation for a fight?"

Unlike his earlier slightly annoyed demeanor, in an instant, Yang Qi switched back to that previous carefree, cocky attitude—didn’t seem to fear Shen Hao at all, and his gaze even held clear disdain.

Shen Hao smiled.

Yang Qi smiled too, as if he saw through Shen Hao’s bluff. He didn’t believe Shen Hao would make a move before figuring out his identity.

But...

"Clang!"

The sudden sound of blade leaving its sheath made everyone’s skin crawl, and a dazzling blade aura flashed—it didn’t seem fast, but the killing intent completely enveloped Yang Qi, as if the very next instant the aura would hack him into a thousand pieces.

"Lord Shen, stop!"

This seemingly murderous but "unhurried" strike didn’t actually land on Yang Qi. The blade was just drawn, and even the swing only went halfway. The aura was intimidating—and Yang Qi was locked in place, hence the effect. At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared beside Shen Hao and grabbed the blade tip.

"You? Why are you stopping me?"

"Lord Shen, you absolutely mustn’t be impulsive. This is Prince Ling!"

The man who stopped Shen Hao was none other than one of the three top experts from the Commander’s Office who shadowed Shen Hao for protection. This time, he worried that Shen Hao would accidentally kill the other guy, so he had to intervene. Of course, they could see Shen Hao was just bluffing, but they didn’t dare risk it—what if Shen suddenly lost his mind?

"Prince Ling? Impossible. Why would Prince Ling go around without any guards?"

"Ahem, Prince Ling’s temperament is strange, so... you’d best be careful yourself."

After that, he left straight away. Didn’t want to get involved in the business between Prince Ling and Shen Hao. Of course, Prince Ling deliberately approaching Shen Hao—they’d report it verbatim to Pang Ban, and quietly record everything the two of them said.

"Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard, Black Banner Battalion of Fengri City, Shen Hao pays respects to Prince Ling. I offended you just now—please forgive me, Your Highness." Shen Hao was direct. Though shocked by the other’s identity, he’d achieved his aim, and the bow and formalities were smooth and respectful.

"You! You really were going to chop me up just now?! Are you nuts?!" Only now did Yang Qi recover. He had some Cultivation, but it was low—he’d never experienced anything like that moment before. For a second, he thought he was dead. He’d probably never leave home without guards again after this.

"Shen Hao didn’t realize it was Prince Ling in person, so my reaction was over the top. Please be lenient, Your Highness."

Yang Qi—no, Prince Ling Yang Shu—gritted his teeth. Lenient? He didn’t want to be lenient, but honestly, he had no real way to deal with Shen Hao either.